Laser printer systems, intermediate transfer members, primer layers for intermediate transfer members, and primer layer compositions

ABSTRACT

Briefly described, embodiments of this disclosure includes intermediate transfer members, primer layer materials, methods of forming an intermediate transfer member layers having a base and an acrylic rubber layer, are disclosed.

BACKGROUND

Various techniques for electrostatic image transfer are known. Onemethod includes the use of an intermediate transfer member. A liquidimage, which includes a liquid carrier having ink particles dispersedtherein, is transferred from a photoconductive surface of aphotoconductive member or drum to a surface (e.g., a release layer orblanket) of the intermediate transfer member. The liquid image isattracted from the photoconductive surface to the surface of theintermediate transfer member. The liquid carrier is removed from thesurface of the intermediate transfer member and the ink particles arecompacted on the surface in the image configuration. Thereafter, the inkparticles are transferred from the surface of the intermediate transfermember to a substrate in the image configuration by pressureapplication. The surface of the intermediate transfer member should havegood adhesion and release properties, but cures relatively slowly, has ashort pot life, and low mechanical strength. Therefore, there is a needin the industry for release layers that overcome at least some of thedisadvantages of current release layers.

SUMMARY

Briefly described, embodiments of this disclosure includes intermediatetransfer members, primer layer materials, methods of forming anintermediate transfer member layers having a base and an acrylic rubberlayer, are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment of an intermediatetransfer member, among others, includes: an intermediate transfer memberbase; an acrylic rubber layer disposed on the intermediate transfermember base; a primer layer disposed on the acrylic rubber layer; and anaddition cure RTV silicone layer disposed on the primer layer, whereinthe primer layer substantially eliminates a poisoning of the additioncure RTV silicone layer by the acrylic rubber layer.

One exemplary embodiment of a primer layer material, among others,includes: an epoxyalkylalkoxysilane compound; an alkenylsilane compound;a polyorganohydrosiloxane; and a titanium catalyst.

One exemplary embodiment of an intermediate transfer member layer havinga base and an acrylic rubber layer, among others, includes: providing aprimer layer material that includes an epoxyalkylalkoxysilane compound,an alkenylsilane compound, a polyorganohydrosiloxane, and a titaniumcatalyst; disposing the primer layer material on the acrylic rubberlayer; drying the primer layer material on the acrylic rubber layer toform a primer layer; disposing an addition cure RTV silicone layermaterial on the primer layer; and curing the addition cure RTV siliconelayer material on the primer layer to form an addition cure RTV siliconelayer, wherein the primer layer substantially eliminates a poisoning ofthe addition cure RTV silicone layer by the acrylic rubber layer.

One exemplary embodiment of methods for preparing an image recordingmedium, among others, includes: providing a water-soluble polymer, aradiation absorbing compound, an activator, and a color former; mixingthe water-soluble polymer, the radiation absorbing compound, theactivator, and the color former; and disposing the direct imagingmaterial onto a substrate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of this disclosure can be better understood with referenceto the following drawings. The components in the drawings are notnecessarily to scale. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numeralsdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 illustrates an illustrative embodiment of an intermediatetransfer member of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 2A through 2C illustrate an embodiment of forming the intermediatetransfer member having the primer layer of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a laser printer system orpress machine of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure will employ, unless otherwiseindicated, techniques of synthetic organic chemistry, ink chemistry,media chemistry, printing chemistry, and the like, that are within theskill of the art. Such techniques are explained fully in the literature.

The following examples are put forth so as to provide those of ordinaryskill in the art with a complete disclosure and description of how toperform the methods and use the compositions disclosed and claimedherein. Efforts have been made to ensure accuracy with respect tonumbers (e.g., amounts, temperature, etc.) but some errors anddeviations should be accounted for. Unless indicated otherwise, partsare parts by weight, temperature is in ° C., and pressure is at or nearatmospheric. Standard temperature and pressure are defined as 20° C. and1 atmosphere.

Before the embodiments of the present disclosure are described indetail, it is to be understood that, unless otherwise indicated, thepresent disclosure is not limited to particular materials, reagents,reaction materials, manufacturing processes, or the like, as such canvary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein isfor purposes of describing particular embodiments only, and is notintended to be limiting. It is also possible in the present disclosurethat steps can be executed in different sequence where this is logicallypossible.

It must be noted that, as used in the specification and the appendedclaims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referentsunless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example,reference to “a support” includes a plurality of supports. In thisspecification and in the claims that follow, reference will be made to anumber of terms that shall be defined to have the following meaningsunless a contrary intention is apparent.

Discussion

Laser printer systems, laser printer systems including intermediatetransfer members, primer layers for intermediate transfer members,primer layer compositions used to make primer layers, are provided. Ingeneral, embodiments of the present disclosure describe laser printersystems having intermediate transfer members that include a primer layerdisposed between an acrylic rubber layer and an addition cure RTVsilicone layer. The addition cure RTV silicone layer is advantageousover condensation cure silicone layers because the addition cure RTVsilicone layer cures faster, gives higher mechanical strength, and doesnot have a pot life problem. Also, there appears to be little or nosilanols present after the addition cure RTV silicone layer is cured tointeract with ink compositions disposed on the addition cure RTVsilicone layer. The use of the addition cure RTV silicone layer isfacilitated by the use of the primer layer disposed between the acrylicrubber layer and the addition cure RTV silicone layer. The primer layerreduces or eliminates the inhibition problems (e.g., due to the presenceof ammonium residue and/or sulfur compounds present on the acrylicrubber layer surface) and subsequent adhesion problems that areencountered when the addition cure RTV silicone layer is disposeddirectly on the acrylic rubber layer. Although not intending to be boundby theory, the primer layer appears to act as a barrier to the poisoningspecies on the surface of the acrylic rubber layer. The primer layerensures a sufficient anchorage between the acrylic substrate and theaddition cure silicone layer.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of an ITM 10. The ITM 10 includes, butis not limited to, an ITM base 12, an acrylic rubber layer 14 disposedon the ITM base 12, a primer layer 16 disposed on the acrylic rubberlayer 14, and a release blanket layer 18 disposed on the primer layer16. The ITM base 12 is a structure that additional layers of materialcan be disposed on. The ITM base 12 is interfaced with the laser printerapparatus and the appropriate systems to rotate the ITM base at anappropriate speed relative to the other components of the laser printerapparatus.

The acrylic rubber layer 14 is disposed on the ITM base 12 usingtechniques known in the art (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,551,716, which isincluded herein by reference). The acrylic rubber layer 14 is a blend ofan acrylic resin Hi-Temp 4051 EP (Zeon) filled with carbon black pearls130 (Cabot) and its curing system constituted by NPC-50 accelerator(ammonium derivative from Zeon) and sodium stearate crosslinker. Theacrylic rubber is at a non-cured state and has still active cure site(chorine and carboxylic groups—from Zeon data).

The primer layer 16 is disposed on the acrylic rubber layer 14. Prior toformation of the primer layer 16, a primer layer material is formulated.The primer layer material can be disposed on the acrylic rubber layer 14at about +/−10° C. of room temperature and cured for about 1 to 24 hoursand about 12 hours. The primer layer 16 can have thickness of about 0.01to 1 micron.

The primer layer material is made of a plurality of components. Theprimer layer material can include, but is not limited to, anepoxyalkylalkoxysilane compound, an alkenylsilane compound, apolyorganohydrosiloxane, and a titanium catalyst.

The epoxyalkylalkoxysilane compound is described by the formula(X—R1)_(a)R2_(b)Si(OR3)_(4-a-b).Where R1 is a divalent hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 4 carbonatoms, R2 and R3 each represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group havingfrom 1 to 4 carbons atom, X represents glycidoxy group orepoxycyclohexyl group. It should be noted that “a” is one to three and“b” is zero to two, with the proviso that a+b is 1, 2, or 3. In anembodiment, the epoxyalkylalkoxysilane compound includes some of itscondensed forms constituted by oligomers of the epoxyalkylalkoxysilanemonomer. The epoxyalkylalkoxysilane compound is about 20 to 80 weight %of the primer layer material, and preferably about 30 to 60 weight % ofthe primer layer material.

The alkenylsilane compound can include, but is not limited to, a vinylsilane, an allyl silane, a silane compound including an unsaturation,and polymeric forms of each (e.g., polyvinylmethoxysiloxane). Inparticular, the vinyl silane compound can include, but is not limitedto, vinyltrimethoxysilane (SIV9220.0 ABCR) and vinyltriethoxysilane(SIV9112.0 ABCR). In particular, the allyl silane compound can include,but is not limited to, allyltrimethoxysilane (SIA0540.0 ABCR) andallyltriethoxysilane (SIA0525.0 ABCR). In particular, the silanecompound including an unsaturation compound can include, but is notlimited to, polyvinylmethoxysiloxane (VMM010 ABCR). In an embodiment,the silane compound is vinyl trimethoxysilane, andallyltrimethoxysilane. The silane compound is about 20 to 80 weight % ofthe primer layer material and about 30 to 60 weight % of the primerlayer material.

The polyorganohydrosiloxane compound can include, but is not limited to,polymethylhydrosiloxane with trimethylsilyl endgroups,polymethylhydrosiloxane with dimethylhydrosilyl endgroups,dimethylsiloxane methylhydrosiloxane copolymers with trimethylsilylendgroups, dimethylsiloxane Methylhydrosiloxane copolymers withdimethylhydrosilyl endgproups, and combinations thereof. In anembodiment, the polyorganohydrosiloxane includes thepolyorganohydrosiloxane crosslinker 101 (Hanse Chemie) (dimethylsiloxanemethylhydrosiloxane copolymers with trimethylsilyl endgroups type) andthe polyorganohydrosiloxane crosslinker 210 (Hanse Chemie)(dimethylsiloxane methylhydrosiloxane copolymers with dimethylhydrosilylend groups). The polyorganosiloxane compound is about 2 to 50 weight %of the primer layer material and about 10 to 30 weight % of the primerlayer material. The titanium catalyst can include, but is not limitedto, organic titanium. The organic titanium can include, but is notlimited to, tetraisopropyl titanate, tetra-n-butyltitanate, titaniumacetylacetonate, DuPont TYZOR® AA titanium acetylacetonatesbis(pentane-2,4-dionato-O,O′)bis(alkanolato)titanium (e.g., AA, AA75,AA95, and AA105 grades), and combinations thereof. In an embodiment, thetitanium catalyst is butyltitanate. The titanium catalyst is about 1 to20 weight % of the primer layer material and about 5 to 15 weight % ofthe primer layer material.

As mentioned above, the release blanket layer 18 is disposed on theprimer layer 16 using techniques known in the art (e.g., U.S. Pat. No.6,551,716, which is included herein by reference). The release blanketlayer 18 can be made of materials such as, but not limited to, additioncure RTV silicone material:

-   -   polydimethylsiloxane dimethylvinylsilyl terminated of viscosity        500-5000 cp (polymer VS500, Polymer VS1000, Polymer VS2000,        Polymer VS 5000 from Hanse Chemie);    -   dimethylsiloxane Methylhydrosiloxane copolymers with        trimethylsilyl endgroups (crosslinker 101 Hanse Chemie) or        diMethylsiloxane Methylhydrosiloxane copolymers with        dimethylhydrosilyl endgproups (crosslinker 210 Hanse Chemie);    -   hydrosilylation catalyst (platinum based catalyst, catalyst 510        from Hanse Chemie 0.5% platinum)    -   hydrosilylation inhibitor (Inhibitor 600 from Hanse Chemie);    -   optionally, polydimethylsiloxane with dimethylhydrosilyl        endgroups that acts as chain extender (Modifier 700 series Hanse        chemie); and    -   optionally, vinyl silicone resins (VQM 820 Hanse Chemie).

The formulation of the addition cure RTV ibased on the vinyl polymerincludes:

Polymer VS, 100 parts;

Crosslinker (101 or 210), 3-10 parts;

Catalyst 510, 0.2-2 parts;

Inhibitor 600, 1-5 parts; and

Vinyl resin (optional), 1-20 parts.

The addition cure RTV silicone cures at room temperature, its curingtime may be shortened significantly by increasing the temperature of thecure (100° C.).

The release layer 18 can have a thickness of about 2 to 20 microns orabout 3 to 10 microns.

FIGS. 2A through 2C illustrate an embodiment of forming the ITM 10having the primer layer 16. FIG. 2A illustrates the ITM base 12 havingthe acrylic rubber layer 14 disposed thereon. FIG. 2B illustrates theprimer layer 16 disposed on the acrylic rubber layer 14. The primerlayer 16 is formed by disposing the primer layer material onto theacrylic rubber layer 14 and curing for a timer period of about 12 hours.FIG. 2C illustrates the addition cure RTV silicone layer 18 disposed onthe primer layer 16.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a laser printer system 30or press machine of the present disclosure. The laser printer system 30includes a drum 32 that has a photoconductive surface. When the laserprinter system 30 is operated the drum 32 rotates and thephotoconductive surface is charged by a charger to a generally uniformpre-determined voltage, typically a negative voltage of the order of1000 Volts. The charger may be any type of charger known in the art,such as a corotron, a scorotron or a roller. In one embodiment of thedisclosure the charger includes multiple double scorotrons, each havinga housing and two corona wire segments. In an embodiment, the voltagebetween wires and the photoconductive surface is about 7000-7500 Volts.

Rotation of the drum 32 brings the charged photoconductive surface intoimage receiving relationship with an exposure system (not shown), suchas a light source. The exposure system may be a laser scanner in thecase of a printer, or the projection of an image in the case of aphotocopier. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the lightsource is a modulated laser beam scanning apparatus, or other laserimaging apparatus such as is known in the art.

The exposure system forms a desired electrostatic image on the chargedphotoconductive surface by selectively discharging portions of thephotoconductive surface. The image portions are at a first voltage andthe background portions are at a second voltage. In one embodiment thedischarged portions have a negative voltage of less than about 100Volts.

Continued rotation of drum 32 brings the charged photoconductivesurface, having the electrostatic image, into operative engagement witha series of six developer rollers (not shown). The developer rollers arefor printing of different colors. The developer rollers rotate in adirection opposite to that of drum 32, such that there is substantiallyno relative motion between their respective surfaces at the point ofcontact. In one embodiment the surfaces of developer rollers are made ofa soft polyurethane material made more electrically conductive by theinclusion of conducting additives, while the core of each developerroller may be made of any suitable electrically conductive material.Alternatively, the drum 32 may be formed of a relatively resilientmaterial, and in such case the surfaces of developer rollers may becomposed of either a rigid or a compliant material. In one embodimentthe developer rollers are charged to a negative voltage of approximately300-600 Volts.

As described below, the surfaces are coated with a very thin layer ofconcentrated liquid ink, or toner, containing 20-50% charged tonerparticles. The layer of toner is between 5 and 30 μm thick. Thedeveloper rollers are themselves charged to a voltage that isintermediate the voltage of the charged and discharged areas on thephotoconductive surface. The liquid toner for each developer assembly isstored in a respective toner reservoir.

When surfaces of developer rollers having the layer of liquid tonerconcentrate thereon are engaged with photoconductive surface of drum 32,the difference in voltage between each developer roller and thephotoconductive surface causes the selective transfer of the layer oftoner particles to the photoconductive surface. This causes the desiredelectrostatic image to be developed on the photoconductive surface.Depending on the choice of toner charge polarity and the use of a“write-white” or “write-black” system, the layer of toner particles isselectively attracted to either the charged or discharged areas ofphotoconductive surface, and the remaining portions of the toner layerwill continue to adhere to surfaces of developer rollers.

In one embodiment, the concentrated layer of liquid toner is completelytransferred to the photoconductor surface during development. In anotherembodiment, only a portion of the thickness of the concentrated tonerlayer is transferred to surface by appropriately adjusting thedevelopment voltages.

Downstream of development assemblies is a background discharge device.The discharge device is operative to flood the photoconductor surfacewith light that discharges the voltage remaining on photoconductorsurface. This reduces electrical breakdown and improves subsequenttransfer of the image. Operation of such a device in a write blacksystem is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,326, which is incorporatedherein by reference.

The electrostatic image developed is transferred to the desiredsubstrate via an intermediate transfer member (ITM) 10 in operativeengagement with photoconductive surface of drum 32 having the developedimage. The ITM 10 rotates opposite to that of the photoconductivesurface providing substantially zero relative motion between theirrespective surfaces at the point of image transfer.

The ITM 10 is operative for receiving the developed image onto a releaseblanket layer 18 thereof from the photoconductive surface, and fortransferring this image to a final substrate 34, such as paper. Thefinal substrate 34 is urged against the release blanket layer 18 of theITM 10. The transfer of the developed image from ITM 10 to the finalsubstrate 34 is electrostatically assisted to counteract theelectrostatic attraction of the developed image to the ITM 10.

The ITM 10 may include a heater disposed therein to heat the ITM 10 asis known in the art. Transfer of the developed image to the ITM 10 isaided by providing electrification of the ITM 10 to provide an electricfield between the ITM 10 and the image areas of the photoconductivesurface. The ITM 10 is maintained at a suitable voltage and temperaturefor electrostatic transfer of the image thereto from the photoconductivesurface. The configuration of such an ITM 10 is known to those skilledin the art.

The developed image may include a plurality of different colors that aresuccessively deposited on the photoconductive surface. The color imageis then transferred to ITM 10. Subsequent images in different colors aresequentially transferred in alignment with the previous image Onto ITM10. When all of the desired images have been transferred, the completemulti-color image is transferred from ITM 10 to the substrate 34.

While embodiments of the present disclosure are described in connectionwith Example 1 and the corresponding text and figures, there is nointent to limit the disclosure to the embodiments in these descriptions.On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications,and equivalents included within the spirit and scope of embodiments ofthe present disclosure.

EXAMPLE 1

In an illustrative embodiment, the following primer is disposed on theblanket (acrylic rubber layer) at 25° C. using a stainless steel rod:

-   -   glycidoxypropyl trimethoxysilane (GLYMO Degussa) 36 parts

Vinyltrimethoxysilane (SIV9220.0 ABCR) 36 parts Crosslinker 101 (HanseChemie) 19 parts N Butyl Titanate (AKT 850 ABCR)  9 parts The primerdries for 12 hours at 25° H.

Then the release layer is coated on the primer layer. The release layerhas the following formulation:

Polymer VS1000 (Hanse Chemie) 100 parts Inhibitor 600 (Hanse Chemie) 2parts Crosslinker 101 (Hanse Chemie) 5 parts Catalyst 510 (hanse Chemie)1 part

The release layer cures onto the primer layer and its anchorage isexcellent. The anchorage test is based on a hand made abrasion test. Therelease cannot be removed from the conforming layer even after strongabrasion after isopar soak.

The same test was done using a primer that does not include thepolymethylHydrosiloxane (crosslinker 101). The addition cure releaseformulation cures on the conforming layer but did not adhere. Therelease is peeled off easily using our hand made abrasion test.

It was found that the polymethylhydrosiloxane reacts instantly when itis in contact with the acrylic resin. Although not intending to be boundby theory, this reaction is probably due to the reaction between theSi—H group present in the polymethylhydrosiloxane with the carboxylicfunction contained in the acrylic resin. This reaction explains thestrong anchorage of the addition cure release on the conforming layer.

It should be noted that ratios, concentrations, amounts, and othernumerical data may be expressed herein in a range format. It is to beunderstood that such a range format is used for convenience and brevity,and thus, should be interpreted in a flexible manner to include not onlythe numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, butalso to include all the individual numerical values or sub-rangesencompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-rangeis explicitly recited. To illustrate, a concentration range of “about0.1% to about 5%” should be interpreted to include not only theexplicitly recited concentration of about 0.1 wt % to about 5 wt %, butalso include individual concentrations (e.g., 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4%) andthe sub-ranges (e.g., 0.5%, 1.1%, 2.2%, 3.3%, and 4.4%) within theindicated range.

Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-describedembodiments. All such modifications and variations are intended to beincluded herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by thefollowing claims.

At least the following is claimed:
 1. An intermediate transfer membercomprising: an intermediate transfer member base; an acrylic rubberlayer disposed on the intermediate transfer member base; a primer layerdisposed on the acrylic rubber layer, wherein the primer layer is madefrom a primer layer composition that includes a silane compound, analkenylsilane compound, a first crosslinker comprising adimethylsiloxane methylhydrosiloxane copolymer with dimethylhydrosilylend groups, and a titanium catalyst, wherein the silane compound isdescribed by the formula(X—R1)_(a)R2_(b)Si(OR3)_(4-a-b), wherein R1 is a divalent hydrocarbongroup having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, wherein R2 and R3 each representa monovalent hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 4 carbons atom, whereinX represents an epoxycyclohexyl group, wherein “a” is one to three and“b” is zero to two, with the proviso that a+b is 1, 2, or 3 wherein theprimer layer is anchored to the acrylic rubber layer by a reactionproduct between a Si—H group of a methylhydrosiloxane unit ordimethylhydrosilyl end group of the dimethylsiloxane methylhydrosiloxanecopolymer with dimethylhydrosilyl end groups and a carboxylic functionin the acrylic rubber; and an addition cure RTV silicone layer disposedon the primer layer, wherein the primer layer substantially eliminates apoisoning of a platinum catalyst in the addition cure RTV silicone layerby the acrylic rubber layer and wherein the addition cure RTV siliconelayer comprises a second crosslinker, the second crosslinker selectedfrom: dimethylsiloxane methylhydrosiloxane copolymer with trimethylsilylendgroups or dimethylsiloxane methylhydrosiloxane copolymer withdimethylhydrosilyl endgroups.
 2. The intermediate transfer member ofclaim 1, wherein the alkenylsilane compound is selected from: an allylsilane, a silane compound including an unsaturation, and polymeric formsof each.
 3. The intermediate transfer member of claim 1, wherein thetitanium catalyst comprises titanium acetylacetonate.
 4. Theintermediate transfer member of claim 1, wherein the silane compound isabout 20 to 80 weight % of the primer layer composition, thealkenylsilane compound is about 20 to 80 weight % of the primer layercomposition, the first crosslinker is about 2 to 50 weight % of theprimer layer composition, and the titanium catalyst is about 1 to 20weight % of the primer layer composition.
 5. The intermediate transfermember of claim 1, wherein the primer layer has a thickness of about0.01 to 1 micron.
 6. The intermediate transfer member of claim 1,wherein the addition cure RTV silicone layer comprises:polydimethylsiloxane dimethylvinylsilyl terminated of viscosity of500-5000 cP; dimethylsiloxane methylhydrosiloxane copolymers withtrimethylsilyl endgroups; hydrosilylation catalyst comprising platinum;and hydrosilylation inhibitor.
 7. The intermediate transfer member ofclaim 1, in which the addition cure RTV silicone layer comprises: 100parts polydimethylsiloxane dimethylvinylsilyl terminated of viscosity of500-5000 cP; 3-10 parts dimethylsiloxane methylhydrosiloxane copolymerswith trimethylsilyl endgroups; 0.2-2 parts hydrosilylation catalystcomprising platinum 1-5 parts hydrosilylation inhibitor; and 1-20 partsvinyl resin, where parts are parts per weight per 100 partspolydimethylsiloxane dimethylvinylsilyl terminated of viscosity of500-5000 cP.
 8. The intermediate transfer member of claim 1, in whichthe addition cure RTV silicone layer comprises a thickness between 3-10microns.
 9. A method of forming an intermediate transfer member layerhaving a base and an acrylic rubber layer comprising: providing anacrylic rubber material; disposing the acrylic rubber material on thebase to form the acrylic rubber layer, the acrylic rubber layercomprising a non-cured state; providing a primer layer material thatincludes a silane compound, an alkenylsilane compound, a crosslinkercomprising a dimethylsiloxane methylhydrosiloxane copolymer withdimethylhydrosilyl end groups, and a titanium catalyst, wherein thesilane compound is described by the formula(X—R1)_(a)R2_(b)Si(OR3)_(4-a-b), wherein R1 is a divalent hydrocarbongroup having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, wherein R2 and R3 each representa monovalent hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 4 carbons atom, whereinX represents a glycidoxy group or an epoxycyclohexyl group, wherein “a”is two or three and “b” is zero to two, with the proviso that a+b is 2or 3; disposing the primer layer material on the acrylic rubber layerwhile the acrylic rubber layer is in the non-cured state; drying theprimer layer material on the acrylic rubber layer to form a primer layerwherein the primer layer is anchored to the acrylic rubber layer by areaction product between a Si—H group of a methylhydrosiloxane unit ordimethylhydrosilyl end group of the dimethylsiloxane methylhydrosiloxanecopolymer with dimethylhydrosilyl end groups and a carboxylic functionin the acrylic rubber; disposing an addition cure RTV silicone layermaterial comprising a platinum catalyst on the primer layer; and curingthe addition cure RTV silicone layer material on the primer layer toform an addition cure RTV silicone layer, wherein the primer layersubstantially eliminates a poisoning of the addition cure RTV siliconelayer by the acrylic rubber layer.
 10. The method of claim 9, in whichthe non-cured state of the acrylic rubber layer comprises activechlorine and carboxylic groups, in which drying the primer layermaterial on the acrylic rubber layer to form a primer layer comprisesforming bonds between Si—H groups in the primer layer and carboxylicgroups contained in the acrylic rubber layer.
 11. The method of claim 9,wherein the alkenylsilane compound is selected from: an allyl silane, asilane compound including an unsaturation, and polymeric forms of each.12. The method of claim 9, wherein the titanium catalyst comprisestitanium acetylacetonate.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein the silanecompound is about 20 to 80 weight % of the primer layer material, thealkenylsilane compound is about 20 to 80 weight % of the primer layermaterial, the crosslinker is about 2 to 50 weight % of the primer layermaterial, and the titanium catalyst is about 1 to 20 weight % of theprimer layer material.
 14. The method of claim 9, wherein the primerlayer has a thickness of about 0.01 to 1 micron.
 15. The method of claim9, in which the addition cure RTV silicone layer comprises: 100 partspolydimethylsiloxane dimethylvinylsilyl terminated of viscosity of500-5000 cP; 3-10 parts dimethylsiloxane methylhydrosiloxane copolymerswith trimethylsilyl endgroups; 0.2-2 parts hydrosilylation catalystcomprising platinum 1-5 parts hydrosilylation inhibitor; and 1-20 partsvinyl resin, where parts are parts per weight per 100 partspolydimethylsiloxane dimethylvinylsilyl terminated of viscosity of500-5000 cP.
 16. An intermediate transfer member comprising: anintermediate transfer member base; an acrylic rubber layer disposed onthe intermediate transfer member base; a primer layer disposed on theacrylic rubber layer, wherein the primer layer is made from a primerlayer composition that includes a silane compound, an alkenylsilanecompound, a crosslinker comprising a dimethylsiloxanemethylhydrosiloxane copolymer with dimethylhydrosilyl end groups, and atitanium catalyst, wherein the silane compound is described by theformula(X—R1)_(a)R2_(b)Si(OR3)_(4-a-b), wherein R1 is a divalent hydrocarbongroup having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, wherein R2 and R3 each representa monovalent hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 4 carbons atom, whereinX represents a glycidoxy group or an epoxycyclohexyl group, wherein “a”is one to three and “b” is zero to two, with the proviso that a+b is 2or 3 wherein the primer layer is anchored to the acrylic rubber layer bya reaction product between a Si—H group of a methylhydrosiloxane unit ordimethylhydrosilyl end group of the dimethylsiloxane methylhydrosiloxanecopolymer with dimethylhydrosilyl end groups and a carboxylic functionin the acrylic rubber; and an addition cure RTV silicone layer disposedon the primer layer, wherein the primer layer substantially eliminates apoisoning of the addition cure RTV silicone layer comprising a platinumcatalyst by the acrylic rubber layer.
 17. The intermediate transfermember of claim 16, wherein the alkenylsilane compound is selected from:an allyl silane, a silane compound including an unsaturation, andpolymeric forms of each.
 18. The intermediate transfer member of claim16, wherein the titanium catalyst comprises titanium acetylacetonate.19. The intermediate transfer member of claim 16, wherein the silanecompound is about 20 to 80 weight % of the primer layer composition, thealkenylsilane compound is about 20 to 80 weight % of the primer layercomposition, the crosslinker is about 2 to 50 weight % of the primerlayer composition material, and the titanium catalyst is about 1 to 20weight % of the primer layer composition.
 20. The intermediate transfermember of claim 16, wherein the primer layer has a thickness of about0.01 to 1 micron.